Skip to content Skip to footer

Gordon Schiller, of Hornell

Hornell, New York

HORNELL-Gordon E. Schiller, 80, of 1479 Chestnut St., Hornell, died early Friday morning (March 19, 2021) at St. James Hospital following a brief illness.

Born in Batavia, NY on October 7, 1940, he was the son of Gordon & Elsie (Behrens) Schiller and was raised by his maternal grandparents, Frederick & Catherine Behrens.

Gordon grew up in Geneva, NY and was a graduate of Geneva High School (class of 1959).  He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from SUNY Geneseo.  

From 1963-1964, Gordon taught 6th Grade at Dansville Elementary School and from 1964-1968 taught 7th Grade Math at Middlesex Central School in Middlesex, NY.  In 1968, Gordon moved to the Hornell area and for the next 27 years served as 7th Grade Math teacher for the Hornell City School District.  He retired in 1995.

While attending SUNY Geneseo, Gordon became a member of the Phi Sig Fraternity and throughout the years maintained close friendships with many of his fraternity brothers.  He enjoyed reading and collecting “Juvenile Series Books” such as Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Chip Hilton & Ken Holt and occasionally wrote articles for the “SUSABELLA PASSENGERS”, a publication on juvenile series books.  He also owned an extremely large collection of vintage yearbooks, primarily from places close to his heart such as Hornell, Geneva, Geneseo, and Arkport.  

Gordon was a Pepsi aficionado as he not only savored his ice-cold Pepsi, but collected all things Pepsi.  He enjoyed the outdoors and in his younger years loved to go “woodchuck hunting”. He was a devoted father and “family man” who never missed his daughters’ soccer & basketball games, track meets, and other school activities.  Without a doubt, he was their #1 Fan!!!

In addition to his parents and grandparents, Gordon was preceded in death by his half-brother, Frank Schiller.

He was married on December 17, 1983 to the former Joanne Canestra who survives.  Also surviving are 2 daughters, Bethany Schiller of Trumansburg, NY and Jill (Mike Lepelstat) Schiller of Hornell; sister, Patricia Schiller of Geneva; half-sisters, Audrey (Barry) Panepento of El Mirage, AZ and Bette (Keith) Wright of Valrico, FL; a large extended family, and many friends.

The family of Gordon E. Schiller will receive friends on Friday, March 26, 2021 from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM at the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY.  Private services will be held at the convenience of the family with Deacon Robert McCormick officiating.  Final interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

The Memorial Service for Gordon Schiller will be streamed via YouTube and can be viewed on the Dagon Funeral Home Facebook page on Saturday, March 27, 2021 at 11:00 AM by visiting www.facebook.com/dagonfuneralhome.  The video will remain available for viewing on our Facebook page for 30 days.

Gordon’s family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his name be made to the Hornell Public Library (64 Genesee St., Hornell, NY 14843), or to the restoration of the Phi Sig Fraternity House (Phix Associates, C/O Mike Schmidt, 2 Greenfield Lane, Rochester, NY 14610).  Memorial forms will be available at the Dagon Funeral Home.

To leave an online condolence or share a memory, visit www.dagonfuneralhome.com


Social Share Buttons and Icons powered by Ultimatelysocial